Why Do Student Athletes Get Paid?

“Don't walk through life just playing football. Don't walk through life just being an athlete. Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on someone's life, that's the ultimate vision, that's the ultimate goal - bottom line; according to " Ray Lewis (Brainy Quotes). Those words are true to all student athletes. Student athletes work hard to be extremely successful. In addition to school, recruitable athletes devote over twenty hours a week to their sport. Athletes devote time and money to become successful, additionally, athletes raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the schools that they play for just by getting people to come to their games alone. Athletes receive scholarships to play for schools, but these
scholarship often do not cover all of the expenses associated with their education and sport. Paying college athletes would be beneficial to both the school and the student. College athletes should be paid because of the time and costs associated with sports, for the additional money and attention athletes bring to the school, and to encourage athletes to stay in college and get their degrees. Sports benefit students in many ways, but these benefits come at a cost. Considering student athletes can’t get full time jobs due to the fact they in we put in countless hours of work,blood ,sweat and even tears playing sports for their colleges, On average, division one athletes receive between $11,000 and $15,000 in scholarship funds per year (“Reality vs.Expectations”).
On average, going to an out of state college, tuition, room and board and living expenses total over $40,000 per year (“Reality vs.Expectations ). Student athletes devote a lot of time to their sports and are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA. Between school and practice, many athletes do not have time to get a job and come up with the extra $20,000 they need for school
expenses.
The NCAA is The National Collegiate Athletic Association . A huge factor that ties into money that students make, what they can receive, and what is considered a “gift” from some teams coaches, which also has to do with money and things they can receive from a school they are giving their all to. Students get upset from these rules because they feel like they are being restrained from something they deserve. In the NCAA rulebook, it says that you cannot agree to take a picture or have your name for any commercial purpose ("NCAA Regulations.") This can be a conflict because if certain schools are not paying for things that a student needs, they cannot make their own profit off of their own name.
It also says in the NCAA rule book that you cannot brag or have your agent represent you for what you are and your accomplishments ("NCAA Regulations."). This can be another problem because of what they have accomplished throughout their college career. If a student has made a name for themselves and wants to make extra money because they can and/or need it, they should be able to, but the NCAA stops almost every possible portal to making money .An addition that the NCAA places a hold on college athletes that is frustrating and not allowing them to benefit from the University that they are attending ("NCAA
Regulations”).

Unfortunately, some people with power do not understand that big colleges brings in a large amount to money, as stated earlier. In 2014, The University of Texas generated the most money from their athletic department out of all departments with $165.7 million in one year (Gaines). That statistic alone, is incredibly shocking but also believable at the same time because of how popular any sport is at that school. Making almost $170 million for the school, athletes should have benefits that the NCAA and Universities restrict them from having. People also need to remember that the estimated $170 million is only athletics, which means the school probably almost makes double of that just from tuition and housing as well. From these statistics, people can also get the idea that athletes also have to pay for the housing too, which at big Universities, can be from $3000 to $6000 (Fowler). With the estimated money income from athletes, colleges obviously have the money to pay athletes or at least grant/allow them to accept certain gifts (Fowler.) College athletes generate money for their schools and although they could elsewhere, leave to make money, but not all college athletes leave early and skip graduation (Fowler). If a popular athlete remains in school longer, people will most likely still spend the money to see that player play, which also means a bigger income for the school (Gaines). Some people are starting to believe that athletes should get paid, and there are court hearings that are allowing athletes to get paid (Koch). The court hearings have allowed certain players that are being featured in video games, to get paid (Koch). If a college athlete is bringing a huge benefit to a school, they should get benefits personally as well. In conclusion, college athletes should be paid because they cannot always cover extra costs, generate money for the school, and will be encouraged to remain in school. “As a professional athlete a lot is going to be said about you- but I just try to move forward and try to achieve my goals.” - Lebron James